Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was granted bail for six weeks by the Supreme Court to afford him an opportunity to get treatment of his choice in the country for his complicated heart and kidney disease, is surrendering before the prison authorities on Tuesday (today). Nawaz is scheduled to leave his Raiwind residence on Tuesday at 8pm to return to Kot Lakhpat prison. The PML-N workers have decided to set up 10 camps to express solidarity with Nawaz Sharif.
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly (PA) Hamza Shahbaz held a consultative meeting in which strategy for Nawaz's return to the prison was finalized. Although, the PML-N has not officially announced any programme, but on the insistence of the party leaders and workers, it was decided to express solidarity with Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday. The PML-N leaders and workers would move towards Kot Lakhpat prisons wearing black bands to express solidarity with Nawaz Sharif.
Responding to the recent hike in petroleum prices, the PML-N has also decided to put up hoardings, banners, posters and flexes at public places across the city as a protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led federal government. Sources said the party cadre has been directed to mobilise the masses and also make arrangements for Iftar of those who are likely to join the procession. Newly-appointed Punjab PML-N Information Secretary Azma Zahid Bukhari, however, says it will not be a show of power but show of love the party members and masses have for their supreme leader.
Nawaz was sentenced to seven years in prison and was fined Rs 1.5 billion in the Al-Azizia reference by an accountability court on December 24, 2018. However, he was acquitted in another reference related to Flagship Investments.